the grass. She avoiding their gazes as she retrieved a box of cheap wine she’d picked up at a supermarket en route that evening to Nightingale Park.
Who else brings boxed wine to a friggin’ vampire orgy? She bit her lip, straightening the fabric of her long, luxurious dress with trembling fingers.
Aloud she said, “He’s right. I really shouldn’t be allowing any show of public nudity or indecency in a city park.”
“ But Chief Green!” Clotilde wined, planting her hands on her tiny hips and pouting outright. “Public nudity and indecency are so much fun!”
“ That they are, Clotilde. Indeed, I daresay they are more fun than many other things in life.” Jess smiled in spite of herself, but only briefly. “I’m afraid, though, that they also qualify as illegal activities.”
“ Are we in trouble?” Verona bit her lip, clutching the shoulders of a concerned looking Anthony. “Are you planning to take us all to jail?”
“ No,” Jess snorted. “What am I going to do, arrest myself right along with the rest of you?” She stepped away from the group, pointing an authoritative finger in their direction. “We have more serious things to worry about, like keeping Scarlet in jail and keeping all of you safe.”
She took in her breath as Hathen stepped in front of her, pinning her with a penetrating stare.
She met his eyes with a firm gaze that backed up her strong-shouldered stance.
“ What about keeping yourself happy, Jess?” his tone almost pleading. “Do you ever think about that?”
Stepping around him with a smooth flourish, the police chief threw a brief shrug in his direction as she began to exit the park.
“ My job makes me happy, and I plan to keep it,” she sniffed, adding more softly, “And part of that job, Hathen, is keeping you and your people safe. Please let me know if you see anything suspicious, or if anyone associated with Scarlet shows up or makes any threat against you.”
She granted him a small but sincere smile as she stepped across the border that divided the park from the streets of her city. She was finally heading back to a place she at least understood. “And please let me know if you need anything.”
“ I need you.” The words, although softly spoken, stopped her in her tracks. Their warmth, sincerity and genuine sadness tugging at her heart.
Closing her eyes tight, Jess took a deep, sustaining breath and carried on walking.
“ Good night Hathen.”
Chapter 5
Midnight found Jess back in a place that, while not as beautiful or elegant as Nightingale Park, at least qualified as somewhere she knew and understood.
Seated at her desk in the Clearview Police Department, Jess’s head bowed low above a pile of papers that required her attention and signature. The latter of which she struggled to give.
Hours after her eventful evening at Nightingale Park, her senses still brimmed and overran with all things Hathen. His gorgeous face, his muscular body, and his deep, sonorous voice. Most of all though, she thought about what seemed to be a golden heart, and a kind, strong demeanor.
“ Yeah, it’s a heart that we’re not even sure is beating,” her pesky subconscious screamed in her ear. “The guy is, after all, a card carrying member of the walking undead.”
“ Pffft,” she whispered in response, “he’s a vampire, not a zombie.”
Vaguely alarmed that a grown woman was indeed carrying on this conversation, especially with herself, Jess tried to focus on her ever growing pile of paperwork. Finally, though, she threw down her pen and rested her head in her hands.
I let this happen once before , she shuddered at the intrusion of old memories. I can’t allow it to affect my job, or my life … .
“ You don't honestly think you have a chance with him, do you?”
Jess bolted upright in her seat, alert in keen curiosity.
Since when does my
Who else brings boxed wine to a friggin’ vampire orgy? She bit her lip, straightening the fabric of her long, luxurious dress with trembling fingers.
Aloud she said, “He’s right. I really shouldn’t be allowing any show of public nudity or indecency in a city park.”
“ But Chief Green!” Clotilde wined, planting her hands on her tiny hips and pouting outright. “Public nudity and indecency are so much fun!”
“ That they are, Clotilde. Indeed, I daresay they are more fun than many other things in life.” Jess smiled in spite of herself, but only briefly. “I’m afraid, though, that they also qualify as illegal activities.”
“ Are we in trouble?” Verona bit her lip, clutching the shoulders of a concerned looking Anthony. “Are you planning to take us all to jail?”
“ No,” Jess snorted. “What am I going to do, arrest myself right along with the rest of you?” She stepped away from the group, pointing an authoritative finger in their direction. “We have more serious things to worry about, like keeping Scarlet in jail and keeping all of you safe.”
She took in her breath as Hathen stepped in front of her, pinning her with a penetrating stare.
She met his eyes with a firm gaze that backed up her strong-shouldered stance.
“ What about keeping yourself happy, Jess?” his tone almost pleading. “Do you ever think about that?”
Stepping around him with a smooth flourish, the police chief threw a brief shrug in his direction as she began to exit the park.
“ My job makes me happy, and I plan to keep it,” she sniffed, adding more softly, “And part of that job, Hathen, is keeping you and your people safe. Please let me know if you see anything suspicious, or if anyone associated with Scarlet shows up or makes any threat against you.”
She granted him a small but sincere smile as she stepped across the border that divided the park from the streets of her city. She was finally heading back to a place she at least understood. “And please let me know if you need anything.”
“ I need you.” The words, although softly spoken, stopped her in her tracks. Their warmth, sincerity and genuine sadness tugging at her heart.
Closing her eyes tight, Jess took a deep, sustaining breath and carried on walking.
“ Good night Hathen.”
Chapter 5
Midnight found Jess back in a place that, while not as beautiful or elegant as Nightingale Park, at least qualified as somewhere she knew and understood.
Seated at her desk in the Clearview Police Department, Jess’s head bowed low above a pile of papers that required her attention and signature. The latter of which she struggled to give.
Hours after her eventful evening at Nightingale Park, her senses still brimmed and overran with all things Hathen. His gorgeous face, his muscular body, and his deep, sonorous voice. Most of all though, she thought about what seemed to be a golden heart, and a kind, strong demeanor.
“ Yeah, it’s a heart that we’re not even sure is beating,” her pesky subconscious screamed in her ear. “The guy is, after all, a card carrying member of the walking undead.”
“ Pffft,” she whispered in response, “he’s a vampire, not a zombie.”
Vaguely alarmed that a grown woman was indeed carrying on this conversation, especially with herself, Jess tried to focus on her ever growing pile of paperwork. Finally, though, she threw down her pen and rested her head in her hands.
I let this happen once before , she shuddered at the intrusion of old memories. I can’t allow it to affect my job, or my life … .
“ You don't honestly think you have a chance with him, do you?”
Jess bolted upright in her seat, alert in keen curiosity.
Since when does my